Liftoff (The West Wing)

"Liftoff" is the 114th episode of The West Wing.

Plot

Having just been promoted, it's CJ's first day as Chief of Staff. After being introduced to the Secret Service Agents assigned to protect her, it is time for her last press briefing, where she receives a huge round of applause from a stunned Press Room. CJ struggles to come to terms with her new position; giving orders to her friends, getting used to a new office (and Margaret - Leo's devoted secretary) and her open access to the Situation Room. After an emotional first day, she goes to see Leo in hospital, where she tells him she doesn't think this is going to work. However, after a second day, she finds her feet and begins to exert her authority (even to the President, who is a little stunned but very impressed).

C.J.'s first task as Chief of Staff is dealing with a sudden international issue: an ex-government official from the former Soviet republic of Georgia is offering a stockpile of uranium to the U.S. He's apparently also offering it to the Iranian government, so the U.S. has to act fast if they want to secure the material. C.J. initially has circles run around her by brusque SecDef Hutchinson, who is adamant about not wanting DoD personnel involved in extracting the material. Toby gives her the break she needs when he figures out it is about budgeting and personnel, and C.J. is able to broker an arrangement between the Departments of Defense and Energy, with possible assistance from the United Kingdom.

Toby finds it hard facing the press, as a stop-gap until a replacement is found, and makes an over-the-line analogy when discussing the Middle East deployment. He finds an unlikely ally in Annabeth Schott, who returns to his radar when C.J. rejects his first choice of an Ari Fleischer type. Annabeth feels Toby could be right for the job with just a little grooming and offers to coach him until he gets it right.

Josh finds out that Matt Santos, a rising star Congressman who just got appointed to the Ways and Means Committee, is going to retire and return to Houston at the end of the term. Josh goes and tries to convince Santos to defer his plans to open a large number of public health clinics, but while he doesn't succeed, he leaves very impressed with Santos.

Trivia

This is Jimmy Smits's first appearance as Matt Santos, also already appearing in the opening montage, and Kristin Chenoweth as Annabeth Schott, although here as a guest star.

External links

• The West Wing Episode Guide